The Eugene B. Feigelson, MD, Merit-Based Scholarship

Why Is This Scholarship Important?

There is no question that SUNY Downstate Medical Center has had an amazing impact on Brooklyn and New York City. It has trained more New York City physicians than any other medical center in the country. Nearly half of Brooklyn's practicing physicians trained at Downstate. Additionally, Downstate is one of the few medical centers in the nation specifically committed to addressing the health concerns of an economically and culturally diverse urban population.

Even more importantly, Downstate Medical Center has always drawn its medical students largely from within the community, and many of them are the first in their families to attend college. Many are immigrants (about 38 %), or children of immigrants (67%) and nearly a quarter (20%) meet the Health and Human Services guidelines for economically disadvantaged. Downstate has always been proud of its commitment to Brooklyn. These medical students are part of that commitment, and part of its legacy.

The goal of this campaign is to raise funds to provide annual scholarships for deserving and qualified students. Through your gift, Downstate's commitment to helping disadvantaged medical students achieve their goals can be continued.

For more information about the Eugene B. Feigelson, MD, Merit-based Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students contact either Dr. JoAnn Bradley at (718) 270-4418 / joann.bradley@downstate.edu. You also may write to either at the Office of Institutional Advancement and Philanthropy, Box 93, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203.

Eugene B. Feigelson, MD

Eugene B. Feigelson, MD, has been described as a man for all seasons. The boy from an impoverished mining town went on to become an all-state athlete and class poet in his native Alabama. He excelled in college and medical school; and his 40-year career has been distinguished by innovation in psychiatric care, extensive community service, and professional achievements, both here and abroad.

Dr. Feigelson has served Downstate with distinction as Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry; Interim President of Downstate, at a time of critical change; and Senior Vice President for Biomedical Education and Research and Dean of the College of Medicine. As Dean, Dr. Feigelson created an innovative new curriculum geared to providing students a closer connection between basic science and clinical practice, as well as early mentoring. He has always felt a special relationship with students and been a strong advocated for their needs.

Before coming to Downstate, as Professor and Chief of Psychiatry at St. Luke's Hospital, Dr. Feigelson pioneered the development of one of the first psychiatric day hospitals in America. He continued to create innovative programs in psychiatry after coming to Downstate in 1978. Shortly after his arrival he helped establish one of the first medical-psychiatric consultation services in U.S. hospitals.

Throughout his career, Dr. Feigelson has authored numerous professional articles and served in leadership positions in many prestigious professional societies and community organizations. He is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, and a former President of the American Medical Society. In 1999, he was presented with The Community Service Award by Assemblyman Thomas Frank Boyland. His work has also been recognized via proclamation by State Senator Carl Andrews, and State Senator John Sampson, among others. Recently, he served as honorary chair of a ceremony honoring African heads-of-state during the meeting of the UN General Assembly, and was also honored by the Brooklyn Psychiatric Center for his contributions.

In the early 90s, as Chair of the Council on International Affairs of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Feigelson played a major role in confronting the Soviet Union's use of psychiatry to suppress political dissidents. In 1992 he led a "traveling university" to Eastern Europe to bring American psychiatric ideas to countries that had been under Soviet rule. He was honored by the Psychiatric Associations of Czechoslovakia, Hungry and Poland and given a gold medal from Charles University in Prague. Subsequently, he led a successful medical delegation to Cuba and will be leading another delegation to India at the end of October.

Dr. Feigelson's longstanding interest in global healthcare and his international experiences have led to his current role as Downstate's Director of the Office of International Education and Global Health.